Samsung has unveiled three new mobile image sensors designed for both primary and sub-cameras, setting new standards for mobile photography.
Jesuk Lee, Executive Vice President and CTO of the System LSI Sensor Business Team at Samsung Electronics, highlighted the company's commitment to enhancing image sensor performance. He stated, “Bridging the gap between main and sub cameras to offer a consistent photography experience across all angles is the industry's new direction.”
Introducing the ISOCELL HP9
The ISOCELL HP9, the industry's first 200MP telephoto sensor, is at the forefront of this innovation. This sensor features proprietary high-refractive microlens made from new materials to improve light-gathering capabilities, resulting in more vivid colours and better focus. Unlike traditional telephoto lenses that struggle in low light, the ISOCELL HP9 uses Tetrapixel technology to merge 16 pixels into a large 12MP 2.24μm-sized sensor, delivering sharper portraits and dramatic bokeh effects.
Samsung's remosaic algorithm powers the ISOCELL HP9, which offers 2x or 4x in-sensor zoom modes and can achieve up to 12x zoom when paired with a 3x zoom telephoto module.
The ISOCELL GNJ's dual-pixel prowess
Next in line is the ISOCELL GNJ, a 50MP dual-pixel sensor in a 1/1.57-inch optical format. It has an improved high-transmittance anti-refractive layer (ARL) and a proprietary high-refractive microlens to enhance light transmission and reduce reflections. Samsung has upgraded the pixel isolation material in deep trench isolation (DTI) from polysilicon to silicon oxide, reducing crosstalk between adjacent pixels and capturing more details.
The ISOCELL GNJ also boasts improved power efficiency, consuming 29% less in preview mode and 34% less in 4K 60fps video mode.
The versatile ISOCELL JN5
The third sensor, the ISOCELL JN5, is another 50MP sensor with a 1/2.76-inch optical format. It features dual vertical transfer gate (Dual VTG) technology to reduce noise in extreme low-light settings, Super Quad Phase Detection (Super QPD) for enhanced autofocus, and dual slope gain (DSG) technology to boost HDR performance.
Samsung emphasises that the ISOCELL JN5's slim optical format makes it suitable for use in both main and sub cameras, offering versatility across different mobile devices.
Although Samsung has not provided a specific timeline for the release of these new sensors, they are expected to debut soon. With the Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for July 10 and the launch of new Android phones before the holiday season, the wait for these advanced sensors may be short.
